Strawberry plant Sharon

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called &#34;Sharon&#34; is disclosed. The variety is a cross between &#34;Rachel&#34; and &#34;Chandler&#34;, which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than other known and available strawberry varieties.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/490,103, filed Mar. 6,1990, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Sharon". The variety was developed froman organized scientifically designated breeding program carried out atthe Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan,Israel. The variety is the product of selection of seedlings resultingfrom crosses between the strawberry varieties "Rachel" and "Chandler".The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners andthe reproduction ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety "Sharon" resembles the variety "Chandler" and is able togrow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lastinguntil summer. The production of fruit beginning in November is twomonths earlier than any known variety of Fragaria L. The fruit of the"Sharon" variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and size aswell as a long shelf life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 -- Photograph of the "Sharon" variety illustrating the foliageand fruit.

FIG. 2 -- Photograph of the "Sharon" variety illustrating the fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Sharon" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels inIsrael. "Sharon" is a short day variety that flowers earlier than otherknown and available short day length strawberry varieties. Flowering andfruit production is not affected by the use of polyethylene windtunnels. This production procedure is utilized in normal agriculturalpractices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature orlight control. Mother plants were stored at 0° C. from January throughApril. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment.Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These youngplantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferredto raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30° C.during the day and 22° C. at night. Water and fertilizers were appliedthrough drip irrigation. An example of an optimum planting date isbetween September 15th to the 20th with the approximate date offlowering on October 20, and the approximate date of first fruiting onNovember 20. "Sharon" flowering is not induced by chilling, but bynatural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic oflate fall and early winter. Color readings described herein were takenunder natural light conditions and color identifications were made byreference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHSCC) exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented inTable 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety "Sharon" (1) has notendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appearsnormal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials;and (3) the type of bearing is not remonant (e.g., "Sharon" bloomsperpetuously, during late fall and winter).

The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiaryfruit possessing distinct shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm to veryfirm with a dark red color (Table 2). The variety "Sharon" flowersseveral months earlier than known strawberry varieties. One of theclosest known varieties would be "Karina" (Table 1) as well as the newvarieties under co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/735,968("Dorit"), 07/735,695 ("Shalom"), 07/435,967 ("Smadar"), and 07/735,970("Saaid"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruitproduction for "Sharon" and the four co-pending varieties (Table 3).Total Soluble Solids (TSS), percent acidity and aroma are presented inTable 4 by comparison to the varieties listed in Table 3.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SHARON"                                             MORPHOLOGICAL               COMPARABLE                                        TRAIT         DESCRIPTION.sup.a                                                                           VARIETY.sup.b                                     ______________________________________                                        Classification                                                                              Botanical-                                                                    Fragaria L.                                                     Plant habit   Flat          "Panta-                                                                       gruella"                                          Plant density Medium        "Gorella"                                         Plant vigor   Strong        "Grande"                                          Leaf:                                                                         a)  Lebght        14-18 cm                                                    b)  Width         11-13 cm                                                    c)  Color         Green Group 143 A                                                             (RHSCC)                                                         1) Upper Side:                                                                              Medium Green                                                d)  Blistering    Absent or Very                                                                Weak                                                        e)  Cross-section Flat                                                        f)  # of leaflets Sometimes >3                                                Terminal leaflet                                                              a)  Length/Width ratio                                                                          As long as broad                                            b)  Shape of base Obtuse                                                      c)  Shape of teeth                                                                              Rounded                                                     d)  Length        6-7 cm                                                      e)  Width         6-7 cm                                                      Flower                                                                        a)  Size          Medium        "Gorella"                                     b)  Size of calyx to                                                                            Same size                                                       corolla                                                                   c)  Size of inner calyx                                                                         Same size                                                       versus outer calyx                                                        d)  Spacing of petals                                                                           Overlapping                                                 e)  Petal length/width                                                                          Broader than long                                           f)  Time of flowering                                                                           Early         "Karina".sup.c                                Stolon                                                                        a)  Number        Medium         "Gorella"                                    b)  Thickness     Thick                                                       c)  Pubescence    Weak                                                        d)  Anthocyanin   Absent or very                                                  coloration    weak                                                        Petiole                                                                       a)  Pose of hairs Outwards                                                    b)  Length        7-11 cm                                                     Inflorescence                                                                 a)  Position relative                                                                           Above                                                           to foliage                                                                ______________________________________                                         .sup.a The description of "Sharon" is based on the test guidelines for        Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant        Varieties, (UPOV).                                                            .sup.b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar     listed.                                                                       .sup.c "Sharon" flowers at the end of October. One of the earliest known      varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January.          

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SHARON"                                             CHARACTERISTIC       DESCRIPTION                                              ______________________________________                                        Time of ripening     Very Early                                               Ratio of length/maximum width                                                                      Longer than broad                                        Primary Fruit.sup.a  Wedged                                                   Length               43-50 mm                                                 Width                30-36 mm                                                 Secondary Fruit      Conical                                                  Length               33-37 mm                                                 Width                27-32 mm                                                 Tertiary Fruit       Ovoid                                                    length               28-30 mm                                                 width                25-26 mm                                                 Size                 Large                                                    Band without achenes Medium                                                   Unevenness of surface                                                                              Medium                                                   Color                Red                                                      Evenness of color    Even                                                     Glossiness           Medium                                                   Insertion of achenes Below surface                                            Insertion of calyx   Level with surface                                       Pose of calyx segments                                                                             Reflexed                                                 Size of calyx in relation                                                                          Larger                                                   to fruit diameter                                                             Adherence of calyx   Very strong                                              Firmness             Firm to Very Firm                                        Color of Flesh       Red                                                      Evenness of flesh color                                                                            Uneven                                                   Sweetness.sup.b      Weak                                                     Color                44 AB circa (RHSCC)                                      Taste.sup.b          Slightly Acidic                                          ______________________________________                                         .sup.a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary,         secondary and tertiary fruit.                                                 .sup.b See Table 4.                                                      

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SHARON".sup.a                                                  Nov. Dec.     Jan.   Feb.   Mar. Apr.                                  ______________________________________                                        Sharon   40     60       80    80     80   80                                 Dorit.sup.b                                                                            30     70       100  100    100  100                                 Shalom.sup.c                                                                           50     70       80   100    100   70                                 Smadar.sup.d                                                                           50     70       100  100    100   50                                 Saaid.sup.e                                                                             0     70       100  100    100  100                                 Douglas.sup.f                                                                           0      0       40   150    150  150                                 Chandler.sup.g                                                                          0      0       30   150    150  120                                 ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Average yield in g/m.sup.2 in Ramat Hadar, Isreal (1989-90). The       time of ripening for "Sharon" fruit is very early.                            .sup.b U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for         "Dorit" fruit is early.                                                       .sup.c U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,695. The time of ripening for         "Shalom" fruit is early.                                                      .sup.d U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,967. The time of ripening for         "Smadar" fruit is very early to early.                                        .sup.e U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,970. The time of ripening for         "Saaid" fruit is early to medium.                                             .sup.f U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" frui     is late.                                                                      .sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler"         fruit is late.                                                           

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARATIVE FRUIT                                                             CHARACTERISTICS OF "SHARON"                                                           T.S.S..sup.a                                                                          Acidity.sup.b                                                         in %    in %     Aroma     Taste                                      ______________________________________                                        Sharon    6.5-7.0   1.0      3       Slightly                                                                      Acidic                                   Dorit.sup.c                                                                             8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good                                     Shalom.sup.d                                                                            8.0-9.0   1.0      4       Normal                                   Smadar.sup.e                                                                            8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good                                     Saaid.sup.f                                                                             8.0-9.0   1.0      3       Normal                                   Douglas.sup.g                                                                           6.5-7.0   0.8      3       Slightly                                                                      Acidic                                   Chandler.sup.h                                                                          6.5-7.0   0.8      3       Slightly                                                                      Acidic                                   ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Total Soluble Solids expresses fruit sweetness and was determined      with a refractometer.                                                         .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac     was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of fenolfthaleinen was added an     the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated as      the quantity of NaOH (cc) × 0.32.                                       .sup.c U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,968.                                  .sup.d U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,695.                                  .sup.e U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,967.                                  .sup.f U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,970.                                  .sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487.                                             .sup.h U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262.                                        

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct variety of strawberrysubstantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as beingable to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November andlasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape and along shelf life.